Backup Disaster Recovery
As we enter the month of August, we are also entering peak hurricane season. Albeit hurricane preparation may not be on the average IT professional’s to-do list, BUT it is important to note that data loss can be caused by natural occurring events such as flood, fire, storms, earthquakes and power surges.
Although the major cause of data loss is due to human error combined with the fact that naturally occurring disasters only account for roughly 3% of all data loss; it is important to note this form of data loss is the most severe.
Lightening Doesn’t Strike Twice
Park Oskar, a freelance writer for StellarInfo.com, posted an online article in September of 2006 profiling the different types of non-human data loss. He recommends keeping data in an offsite backup as it is “statistically unlikely for natural disasters to occur in two locations simultaneously.
Utilizing the Cloud (No Pun Intended)
Since Oskar’s article was published four years ago, the Cloud has become a viable option for seamless offsite data backup. As part of your organization’s Backup Disaster Recovery (BDR) program, you can set up a Cloud to send data offsite continuously.
One of the major benefits of utilizing the Cloud is that it can be accessed anywhere via an internet connection.
Always Be Prepared
So say for instance (Worst Case Scenario here) a severe storm damages your office. Some of your equipment is damaged and you can’t work in the office until repairs are made. Luckily because your data is backed-up in the Cloud, you can access the Cloud from your home computer and within minutes, it is business as usual.
Again, even though the probability of losing data due to an “Act of God” is incredibly slim, the aftermath of such an event can be detrimental to an organization. In this case, it is better to be safe than sorry.
iBusiness
Consumers absolutely love the iPad. Music, videos, documents and eBooks are all wrapped up in a sleek and very attractive package. However, can the iPad cross over into business territory or should organizations stick to using Netbooks while on the go?
The Benefits
- Portability: The sleek, all in one design is ideal for travelers. Instead of having to balance a keyboard and screen (which is difficult to do when the person sitting in front of you insists on reclining their chair all the way back), the iPad is one screen. Oh and did I mention the iPad weighs 1.5 pounds?
- The iPad also doubles as an eReader, ideal for reviewing business reports, dissertations, and white papers, as well as newspapers and magazines.
- Battery Life: The iPad has a 10 hour battery capacity – which outshines most Netbooks, which cap out at about 8 hours.
- Surpasses Smartphones: The iPad allows users to have the portability and power of a standard Smartphone, but with a much larger workspace. Ever try to send a company wide email on a Blackberry? Your thumbs will appreciate the iPad’s virtual keyboard.
- Built in 3G – eliminates the need to be in a Wi-Fi hotspot, which means it is always connected.
The Drawbacks
- Lack of a USB Port: Easy access to a USB port is ideal for transferring large files (i.e. content heavy presentations or videos) via a flash drive. Users can purchase a “dongle” adapter that converts the iPad sync port into a USB port or upload files via a Cloud such as Dropbox, MobileMe, or Gmail.
- Lack of Integrated Video Camera: Some tout the iPad as being an oversized iPhone. Unfortunately, the iPad lacks in the telecommunications department. There is no integrated video camera that could allow for video conferencing with co-workers while telecommuting or traveling.
- Capacity and Power: The entry level iPad comes with 16gb of internal storage and a 1ghz processor. Many Netbooks come with at least 1.6ghz of power and have variable hard drive sizes that range from16 to 160 gb of storage.
- Cost: Savvy shoppers can purchase a Netbook between $200 -$300. The lowest priced iPad costs $499.
The Bottom Line
It all depends on what your organization is looking for. If a large percentage of your employees travel or telecommute, iPads may in fact be the tool of choice as portability and convenience are some of the major attributes of Apple’s latest creation. However, if your organization doesn’t host applications or files in the Cloud where users are normally tethered to their desktop, it may be better to skip the iPad and rather rely on Smartphones or other devices for quick email updates when on the go.
Hybrid Clouds - The Best of Both Worlds
The Cloud, SaaS, On-Demand, Private, Public, On-Site, Off-Site
How do you make sense of all of the buzz about the Cloud?
Our whitepaper outlines the basics of Cloud Computing including the difference between Private and Public Clouds. It also introduces the combined computing power of a Hybrid Cloud solution to help you make a better informed decision on how to get your organization in the Cloud.
Click here to download your copy of "Hybrid Clouds - The Best of Both Worlds"
Store Non-Critical Data For Less Using Reduced Redundancy
One of the biggest players in the cloud computing industry is Amazon Web Services (and yes - they are related to the other "big" Amazon.com). One of their flagship products, Amazon Web Services Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) is a public cloud data storage system. Recently, Amazon launched a new lower-cost option called Reduced Redundancy Storage (RRS) making an already flexible storage system, even more scalable for customers.
RRS enables customers to lower costs by option to store their data at lower levels of redundancy than in the standard S3 version. Due to the fact that RRS stores objects on multiple drives and that it doesn't replicate objects as often as the standard S3, it is even more cost effective.
Using RRS
RRS is not an option for critical data, but for excess files that need to be stored for compliance or archival purposes. Examples include: old CAD files, completed project data, or even document scans. Anything that isn't mission-critical can be stored (at a lower price point) using RRS.
Alexander Straffin, a Senior Help Desk Associate and Virtual Infrastructure Manager at NSK Inc,
If there is one thing I've learned from being in this industry, it is that there is no such thing as a "one size fits all" solution. Every company has its own set of specific needs and challenges. Amazon knows this, and their awareness is evident with the release of this option. They are certainly heading in the right direction by adding levels of service, and degrees of redundancy. It enables us, as IT service providers, to offer more versatile technical implementations while keeping recurring costs down. The majority of our clients don't need such high levels of redundancy with their data. Our clients tend to care much more about their bottom-line. A 30% reduction in monthly costs is VERY attractive, especially since their SLA remains the same. I feel there will be a lot of businesses that will opt for RRS
The Flop of the Floppy Disk
Sony just announced this week that they will discontinue the production of floppy disks as of March, 2011. Higher capacity storage mediums such as CD-Rs, DVD-Rs, and the ultra portable flash-drives that can hold gigabytes of information have led to the medium's downfall.
I have to wonder though; will these other forms of media (for entertainment and data) become obsolete in the future?
Thanks to advances in technology, specifically virtualization, the need for tangible media has been drastically reduced.
Ten years ago, albums were purchased on compact disc, movies just started coming out on DVD (many of us still bought VHS in the early 2000s), and terms such as "Cloud Computing" and "On-Demand" didn't even register in our vernacular.
Now, consumers can purchase their music digitally, movies can stream to televisions of the internet, and even applications can be run with a simple internet connection.
With the expansion of Cloud Computing Solutions, and more and more companies hopping on the cloud band wagon, is it any wonder that physical media is losing its prominence? The digital revolution has hit the entertainment industry and we are starting to see a trend within IT.
The biggest news of the past couple of weeks was Google's announcement to launch a new and improved work-suite to rival Microsoft Office. Their upgraded Google Docs (vs. Microsoft Word), Google Spreadsheets, (vs. Microsoft Excel), and Google Presentations (vs. Microsoft PowerPoint) are all accessible on-demand via a web connection.
The trend of offering applications through the web versus running from a local machine is gaining speed at an alarming rate to keep up with advances in virtualization technology. With SaaS (Software As A Service) applications, users don't have to download and install programs on their laptops/desktops, and don't have to worry about downloading patches or updates.
For applications that aren't offered in SaaS form, most software companies offer downloadable executable files when you purchase the program via their website. You don't have to purchase CD-ROMs that will become obsolete when the newest release version hits the market.
Within the next few years, IT departments may rely solely on on-demand options rending most forms of physical media unnecessary and irrelevant.
The Benefits of Public Cloud Computing
Simplicity and efficiency are the overarching benefits of having a public cloud. Public clouds are offered as a service, usually over an Internet connection. An off-site third party provider hosts and manages the system. Users connect to the system via web applications or services. Public clouds usually charge a monthly usage fee per gigabyte and bandwidth transfer charges.
Cost: Having a cloud computing model in place, organizations can trim their IT budgets because they don't have to purchase physical hardware (which also saves on energy costs), as the servers are virtual - hosted at a third party. Organizations can customize their clouds with specific storage parameters, applications, and security options so that they only pay for what they need. Since the cloud is hosted by a third party, the organization doesn't need to spend money to have an employee monitor the system; it is taken care of by the host.
Time: In house servers take time to maintain. If hardware or software configurations need to be altered, or if a server crashes or needs to be restarted, the process can often take a couple of hours or a couple of days depending on the situation. With cloud computing, because everything is virtualized, reconfiguring the cloud takes minutes.[1]Also - because the servers are hosted on the cloud, if one server fails, another can instantly be activated, reducing down time.
Maintenance: Due to the fact that the public cloud system is hosted off site, internal employees are not responsible for maintaining the system. The design lets users update or introduce technologies into the system at a much faster rate as everything is managed at the host company. Having a virtualized public cloud means never having to deal with a physical server; it can be maintained from a simple configuration screen.[2]
Disadvantages of a Public Cloud
Lack of Control: Due to the fact that third party providers are in charge of storing and maintaining the data systems, many feel as if they don't have enough control over their personal data.
Speed: Public Clouds are based on internet connections, meaning the data transfer rate is limited to that of the Internet Service Provider (ISP), which is usually no more than 10mbps. If an organization is storing and transferring large amounts of data (high definition video for example), a public cloud may not be the best bet.
Lack of Investment: Although a great cost saving method by reducing the need to invest upfront, renting the service from an outside provider also means that there is little capital gained. Having items such as servers and network equipment can pay off in the long run as assets and tax advantages.
The Benefits of Private Cloud Computing
Private clouds are built from software that runs on a piece of hardware at the organization. The difference between a public cloud and a private cloud is that a private cloud is controlled by the organization. The benefits of this system are that although an investment due to the fact hardware is required, it costs considerably less than traditional data management systems. The cost savings is due to virtualization in which one physical server acts as host to several virtual servers, each of which runs on a layer of software.[3]
Control: Due to the fact that the hardware is on-site, organizations have more control over their data. The organization is in charge of monitoring and maintaining the data giving them complete oversight of their data.
Performance: The private cloud is deployed inside the firewall on an organization's intranet, meaning that transfer rates are dramatically increased. Read access off of private clouds can be as fast as 100mbps, or even more if the organization has a gigabit Ethernet connection. Storage capacity is also higher with a private cloud. Private clouds usually start with a few terabytes and can be increased by adding additional disks.[4]
Disadvantages of a Private Cloud
Cost: Private clouds are more expensive than public because they require both hardware and maintenance personnel. To build a private cloud, an organization needs to invest in hardware or use already existing systems whereas a public cloud is all handled off site. Private clouds also require system administrators. However, one system administrator could easily manage a 100-node cloud with a part-time effort. [5]
Maintenance: Since the private cloud is hosted on sight, the organization needs to provide adequate power, cooling, and general maintenance. The host organization also runs the risk of data loss due to physical damage of the unit (i.e. fire, power surge, water damage).
[1] "Seeding the Clouds: Key Infrastructure Elements for Cloud Computing." IBM. Feb.2009. IBM Corporation. 26 Feb. 2010. <http://www-935.ibm.com/services/in/cio/pdf/oiw03022usen.pdf>.
[2] Fogarty, Kevin. "Cloud Computing Definitions and Solutions." CIO 10 Sep. 2009.Wed. 27 Feb 2010. <http://www.cio.com/article/501814/Cloud_Computing_Definitions_and_Solutions>.
[3] Ibid
[4] "Cloud Computing Public or Private? How to Choose Cloud Storage." Sys-Con Media. Sys-Con Media, 2008. Web. 26 Feb 2010. <http://www.sys-con.com/node/707840>.
[5] Ibid
The Hype of the Cloud
2009 could be called "The Year of the Cloud." The information technology sector has been buzzing with terminology such as "cloud computing" and "virtualization". So what is all the hype about? In order to see why cloud computing has taken the technology world by storm (pun intended); we need to know what it is, how it works, and why it can be beneficial.
What is Cloud Computing?
"Cloud Computing" isn't a technology, but rather a model of computing.[1]A cloud consists of servers, networks, and applications that are available to end users via a network (usually the Internet). So anytime "cloud" is mentioned, it is referring to hardware, software, or services that are accessible from virtually anywhere, with a simple network connection.
"Virtualization" is usually in reference to server virtualization where one physical server actually hosts several virtual servers. In cloud computing, one stand alone server can make an entire data-center complete with servers, networking devices, systems management, storage, and security, look like a single computer. This lets companies buy exactly the amount of storage and security they need.[2]
Public Cloud
Public clouds are offered as a service, usually over an Internet connection. An off-site third party provider hosts and manages the system. Users connect to the system via web applications or services. Public clouds usually charge a monthly usage fee per gigabyte and bandwidth transfer charges.[3] The service is on-demand and users can add or subtract the amount of storage in their cloud simply by contacting the host provider.
Private Cloud
Private clouds are built from software that runs on a piece of hardware at the organization. The difference from a public cloud is that this system is controlled by the organization. The benefits of this system are that a private cloud, although an investment due to the fact hardware is required, costs considerably less than traditional data management systems. Deployments of a private cloud are easier as they are software based, and the system is more secure as the system is within the organization's firewall and managed locally.
Why Go Virtual
There are a multitude of factors as to why a company would want to become virtualized. The most common reason why businesses adapt the cloud model is efficiency. Cloud computing drastically reduces the amount of time, money, and maintenance needed to operate a traditional data management system. With traditional systems; a company has to buy equipment; dedicate space within the office, while providing specific power and cooling needs to house the hardware; and hire administrators to install, secure, and maintain the data system. [4]
The cloud computing model helps to maximize efficiency and minimize cost.
[1] Fogarty, Kevin. "Cloud Computing Definitions and Solutions." CIO 10 Sep. 2009:Web. 27 Feb 2010. <http://www.cio.com/article/501814/Cloud_Computing_Definitions_and_Solutions>.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Maxey, Mike. "Cloud Computing Public or Private? How to Choose Cloud Storage."Cloud Computing Journal (2009): Web. 2 Mar 2010. <http://cloudcomputing.sys-con.com/node/707840>.
[4] "Seeding the Clouds: Key Infrastructure Elements for Cloud Computing." IBM. Feb.2009. IBM Corporation. 26 Feb. 2010. <http://www-935.ibm.com/services/in/cio/pdf/oiw03022usen.pdf>.
IT Associate at NSK Inc. Receives VMWare Certification
NSK Inc now certified in VMware vSphere 4 virtualization
Boston, MA, February 1, 2010 - NSK Inc. recently announced that one of their IT Associates, Justin Etling is now a VMware® Certified Personnel. VMware software allows system administrators to run multiple operating systems on one CPU and lets users create virtualized servers. Etling is certified in VMware's vSphereTM 4, a cloud computing application designed to manage large pools of virtualized computing infrastructure including hardware and software components. According to Etling, "virtualization is the future of the IT industry."
"Virtualization is going to be a huge project driver for small to medium businesses (SMB) in 2010," comments Timothy Lasonde, President of NSK Inc. "As small businesses begin to realize that they can get more out of their equipment by implementing these new technologies, the demand for qualified technicians who understand SMB companies and how to correctly utilize this technology is skyrocketing. Justin is leading NSK Inc in its virtualization efforts and his certification helps to position us appropriately."
In order to become VMware certified, Etling completed a fifty hour training course which culminated in a certification exam. He says the course was very beneficial and that VMware is "really easy to use and implement." Once a technician becomes a VMware Certified Professional, they are officially licensed to use, install, and configure VMware solutions. Etling claims his new credentials are a huge asset to NSK Inc. "A lot of our clients use [VMware] to save money on hardware and software costs. Our clients also use the application for disaster recovery. If a server dies, you can instantly bring it up on another server, which minimizes downtime."
About VMware
VMware delivers solutions for business infrastructure virtualization that enable IT organizations to energize businesses of all sizes. With the industry leading virtualization platform - VMware vSphereTM - customers rely on VMware to reduce capital and operating expenses, improve agility, ensure business continuity, strengthen security and go green. With 2008 revenues of $1.9 billion, more than 150,000 customers and 22,000 partners, VMware is the leader in virtualization which consistently ranks as a top priority among CIOs. VMware is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the world and can be found online at http://www.vmware.com/.
VMware, VMware vSphere and VMware vCenter are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
About NSK Inc
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies. Headquartered in Boston, MA with an additional office in Palo Alto, CA, the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit NSK Inc
The Rise of Cloud Computing
The rise of cloud computing is shifting the center of gravity. It is changing the nature of competition within the computer industry. Technological developments have up until this moment pushed computing power away from central hubs: first from mainframes to minicomputers, and then to PCs and laptops. Now a combination of cheaper and more powerful processors, and ever faster and more ever present networks, is pushing power back to the center in some respects, and even further away in others. The cloud's data centers are, in effect, outsized public mainframes that users do not have to keep up, or update.[1]
Cloud Computing is making it cheaper and cheaper to use new technology and not spend a lot of money just to set it up.
Cloud computing is about offering infrastructure as a service instead of as an in house server or big desktop.
Cloud Computing is about using an application over the web. No longer having to install and update the software on your server, computer or laptop.
Cloud Computing is about no longer buying more and more space for your server, or computer, because all the data lives in the cloud instead of on your computer or server.
Cloud Computing is about not caring what operating system that YOU ARE running on your computer, as long as you have a browser, you can use it.
Okay WHAT is Cloud Computing?
First the term "Cloud" is a figure of speech for the internet. It was inspired by the cloud picture or symbol that is often used to represent the internet in diagrams.
[2]
Wikipedia explains cloud computing as an "internet based development and use of computer technology. Because the technology comes from the internet it was given the name 'Cloud'. In concept, it is a paradigm shift whereby details are abstracted from the users who no longer need knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure that supports them, because everything is done in the cloud (internet). It typically involves the provision of dynamically scaleable and often virtualized resources as a service over the Internet. "[3]
Characteristics
In general, cloud computing customers do not own the physical infrastructure; instead they are renting usage from a third-party provider. They avoid spending money on the hardware and software purchases. They use the resources as a service and pay only for resources that they use.
Web-based e-mail, Salesforce, E-Bay, Facebook and MySpace and online games are all examples of what are increasingly called cloud services, and are accessible through browsers, smart-phones or other devices.
Do I Need It?
Cloud computing offers significant benefits to any company, although it is an unbelievable dream come true for smaller and midsize companies. Now instead of making do with a small under-resourced IT staff trying to imitatate the productivity of a billion-dollar company, smaller and midsize companies can now access enterprise-class solutions with limited up-front costs and easy scalability. Today, the cloud makes leading-edge technology available to everyone, for pennies on the dollar, including consumers.
Compare a typical Exchange Server $3,000-$6,000 -- offering perhaps 500MB of email storage per user -- to Web-based email services that offer up to 7GB of storage. Free. (Google's corporate version offers 25GB per user for $50 a year.
Compare enterprise content-management systems with easier-to-use and more-flexible cloud-based publishing/sharing systems like Blogger, Flickr, and Facebook. They're free, too.
Where do I get it?
Look for providers who deliver adequate security and support -- and be willing to pay for it when appropriate. Do not under-estimate network bandwidth expenses. Being around for the long haul is important too, because there seems little doubt that over the long term cloud computing will supply more and more companies' technology needs.
[1] - The Economist - "Clash of the Clouds" [2] - Diagram showing overview of cloud computing, created by Sam Johnston [3] - Wikipedia Definition of Cloud Computing